Weed whipper protection device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a device for the protection of the leg of the operator of a weed whip, the device including a cylindrical wall having elastic mechanism at the upper end of the wall for securement to the user&#39;s leg and mechanism at the lower end of the wall for securement with respect to the foot of the operator.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to safety devices and more particularly to safety devices that are used while operating a lawn weed whip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/455,414 filed Dec. 6, 1999.

[0003] There has long been a concern for safety and protection in use of equipment used in lawn care. Early lawn care equipment had exposed blades with little or no shielding. Arms, fingers, and legs were injured while mowing grass and weeds. Many attempts were made to minimize or eliminate such injuries. For example, blades were protected using various shielding devices. In some instances the blade was replaced with other types of devices such as nylon cord. While the use of the nylon cord reduced the potential for injury, the nylon cord weed whip created flying dust, sand, gravel and grass cuttings which soiled the clothing and or legs of the operator. Further, injuries continued to occur. While nylon cord is less likely to injure the equipment operator, the nylon cord can cut through clothing such as pant legs of blue jeans. Once the nylon cord has cut through the pant legs, the nylon cord can quickly cut the flesh of the operator. The present invention overcomes the problems associated with the soiling of clothing and legs of the operator and reduce the risk of injury.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention provides a weed whip shield for protection of the lower portion of the operators' legs. The invention is a device for the protection of the leg of the operator of a weed whip. The device includes a cylindrical wall having elastic or securement mechanism at the upper end of the wall for securement of the device to the user's leg and mechanism at the lower end of the wall for securement with respect to the foot of the operator. The shield serves to protect the operator's legs from soilage resulting from sand, gravel, rocks, grass and the like which may be projected by the operation of the weed whip. The protection includes a flexible wrap completely around the lower portion of the operators' legs, e.g., from just above the operator's knees to the operator's foot. The protection comprises a layer of material such as cloth, polymer, leather or canvas. The protective device also may include mechanism to secure the device in place, such as hook and loop material e.g., typically Velcro™ material. The device may further include mechanism that extends beneath the feet e.g., shoes, of the operator to maintain the device in proper location with respect to the operator's leg.

IN THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention for securement in place on an operator's legs;

[0006]FIG. 2 shows a view of the present invention as the device is being secured in place;

[0007]FIG. 3 is a rear view of the toe portion of present invention;

[0008]FIG. 4 shows a side view of an alternative embodiment of present invention;

[0009]FIG. 5 shows a rear view of the alternative embodiment of present invention as the device is being placed on the user;

[0010]FIG. 6 shows a rear view of the alternative embodiment of present invention mounted for use;

[0011]FIG. 7 shows a view of the toe portion of the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 8 is a view of the toe portion of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The device 10, as shown in the FIGS. 1 through 3, includes a cylindrical wall 11 and first securing mechanism 12 and a second securing mechanism 13. The device 10 further includes sole securing mechanism 14. The cylindrical wall 11 may be of cloth, leather, polymer, or other material. The cylindrical wall 11 is of any desired thickness to protect the user from sand, gravel, rocks, grass and or the like that may be thrown by a weed whip. The device serves to protect the pant leg of the user from accumulating dirt and debre in those instances where the user is wearing trousers. The device may also protect the bare leg of the user wearing shorts or a dress.

[0014] The device 10 has first securing mechanism 12 that may be the loop fabric portion of Velcro™ fabric. The mechanism 12 is shown as a long series of narrow strips adjacent one edge of the wall 11. The mechanism 12 may be attached to the wall 11 by any suitable method. For example, mechanism 12 may be attached to wall 11 by an adhesive. Alternatively mechanism 12 may be attached to wall 11 by fusion using heat to weld the mechanism 12 and the wall 11 together. Other methods of attachment may be by sewing or rivets. The mechanism 12 is shown as being attached to the outwardly facing side of wall 11. The second securing mechanism 13 may be the hook fabric portion of Velcro™ fabric. The hook fabric 13 may be a series of narrow strips attached to the other vertical edge of wall 11. The securing mechanism 12 and securing mechanism 13 are placed so that they will engage one another after the device 10 has been placed around the leg of the wearer as shown in FIG. 1. The securing mechanism 13 may be attached to the wall 11 in the same manner as mechanism 12 has been attached, namely, by adhesive, welding, sewing or rivets.

[0015] The device 10 may further include mechanism 14 for disposition beneath the sole of the shoes of the operator. The mechanism 14 may be a strap that is secured at one end to wall 11. The other end of mechanism 14 may be releasably secured to wall 11. The strap 14 may be constructed of a material similar to wall 11, for example, cloth, leather or polymer. The strap 14 is of sufficient thickness and strength to resist wearing due to the walking of the operator during use of the weed whip. The device 10 may include an upper securement 18 that may include a strap 21 with a ring or loop 22 that serves as a buckle. The strap 21 is inserted through the loop 22 and is secured by attachment of the strap 21 using hook and loop fabric for securement. The upper securement 18 is adapted to secure the device 10 at a point above the user's knee. The securement 18 prevents the device from slipping downward on the leg of the user. An elastic band 23 may be provided at the upper edge of the device 10.

METHOD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0016] The method of using the present invention, device 10, includes wrapping the cylindrical wall 11 around the lower portion of the user's leg. The device 10 may be wrapped around the bare leg of the operator that is not wearing trousers. If the operator is wearing trousers, the device 10 may be wrapped over the trousers. The device 10 is secured in place and by overlaying the mechanism 12 with the mechanism 13, e.g., the hook fabric of the mechanism 13 engaging the loop fabric of mechanism 12. The strap 14 is extended beneath the sole of the user's shoes and attached to the snap attachment. The device 10 is secured above the user's knee by wrapping the securement mechanism around the user's leg above the knee. In a similar manner a second device 10 is attached to the other leg of the operator.

[0017] The operator then places the weed whip in operation. The nylon cord of the weed whip may throw up dirt, sand, rocks, grass and the like, however, such material strikes the cylindrical wall 11 rather than the leg or pants of the user. The cylindrical wall 11 prevents the nylon cord from cutting into the flesh of the leg of the operator.

ALTERNATE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0018] An alternative embodiment of the present invention, device 110, as shown in the FIGS. 4 through 6, includes a cylindrical wall 111 and a securing mechanism 112 and 113. The device 110 further includes sole securing mechanism 114. The cylindrical wall 111 may be of cloth, leather, polymer, or other material. The cylindrical wall 111 is of any desired thickness to protect the user from sand, gravel, rocks, grass and/or the like that may be thrown by a weed whip. The device serves to protect the pant leg of the user from accumulating dirt and debre in those instances where the user is wearing trousers. The device may also protect the bare leg of the user wearing shorts or a dress.

[0019] The strap 114 may be constructed of a material similar to wall 111, for example, cloth, leather or polymer. The strap 114 is of sufficient thickness and strength to resist wearing due to the walking of the operator during use. The device 110 includes a toe portion 120 that protects the foot and/or shoe of the user. The toe portion 120 may be secured to the forward portion of the cylindrical wall 111 such as by sewing. The toe portion 120 may include a sole portion 121 that extends beneath the foot of the user. The toe portion 120 includes a strap 126 that secures the device 110 in place with respect to the shoe of the user. The strap 126 may include hook fabric 127 adjacent a first end of strap 126 and loop fabric 128 adjacent the other end of strap 126. The hook fabric 127 engages loop fabric 128 for securement around the foot of the user. The alternative embodiment device 110 may be used in a manner as described with respect to the device 10, except that the device 110 further protects the foot of the user. 

What is claimed it is:
 1. A device for the protection of the legs of an operator all of a weed whip, said the device comprising a wall of flexible material wrapped entirely around the lower portion of the leg of the user, said device extending from the user's foot to above the user's knee.
 2. The device of claim I wherein said device comprises a sheet of material having hook fabric along a first vertical edge and loop fabric along a second edge and wherein the sheet of material may be wrapped around the lower leg of the operator securing the hook fabric to the loop fabric thereby securing the device in place to protect the leg of the operator.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said sheet of material comprises cloth.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein said sheet of material comprises polymer material.
 5. The device of claim 2 wherein said device includes mechanism adapted to extend beneath the foot of the operator to secure the device with respect to the foot of the operator.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein said mechanism for securing the device with respect to the foot comprises a strap.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein said strap is permanently secured at one end to said sheet of material and releasably secured at the other end to said sheet of material.
 8. The device of claim 6 wherein said device includes a toe portion.
 9. A device for the protection of the legs of an operator of a weed whip, said the device comprising a cylindrical adapted for securement around the leg of the user, said cylindrical wall including elastic means adjacent the upper end of the cylindrical wall to secure the device with respect to the leg of the user and elastic means adjacent the lower end of the cylindrical wall to secure the device with respect to the foot of the user.
 10. The device of claim 9 wherein the device includes strap means for extension and securement around the users leg above the knee.
 11. A device for the protection of the legs of an operator all of a weed whip, said the device comprising a wall of flexible material wrapped entirely around the lower portion of the leg of the user.
 12. The device of claim 11 wherein said device comprises a sheet of material having hook fabric along a first vertical edge and loop fabric along a second edge and wherein the sheet of material may be wrapped around the lower leg of the operator securing the hook fabric to the loop fabric thereby securing the device in place to protect the leg of the operator.
 13. The device of claim 12 wherein said sheet of material comprises cloth.
 14. The device of claim 13 wherein said sheet of material comprises polymer material.
 15. The device of claim 12 wherein said device includes mechanism adapted to extend beneath the foot of the operator to secure the device with respect to the foot of the operator.
 16. The device of claim 15 wherein said mechanism for securing the device with respect to the foot comprises a strap.
 17. The device of claim 16 wherein said strap is permanently secured at one end to said sheet of material and releasably secured at the other end to said sheet of material.
 18. The device of claim 16 wherein said device includes a toe portion. 